2001 Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer
# 2001 Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer

This is about the Summer 2001 race at Michigan. For the race at Daytona, see 2001 Pepsi 400.

The 2001 Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer was the 23rd stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 32nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 19, 2001, in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway. The race was shortened from its scheduled 200 laps to 162 due to inclement weather. Sterling Marlin, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, would control the late stages of the race when rain stopped the race to win his seventh career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his first victory of the season. The win was also Dodge's first victory in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 24 years. To fill out the podium, Ricky Craven, driving for PPI Motorsports, and Bill Elliott, driving for Evernham Motorsports, would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Cingular Wireless |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Lite, Harley-Davidson |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's, Frosted Mini-Wheats |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Viagra |
| 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | NationsRent |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge "Grab Life By The Horns" |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Ralphs |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | Conseco |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt New Products |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge "Grab Life By The Horns" |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | UAW, Delphi |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart |
| 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | Sauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Schult Homes, Oakwood Homes |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Coors Light |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Sparkle |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Sprint PCS |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 57 | David Keith | Team CLR | Ford | Calcium Lime Rust |
| 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart Blue Light Special |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hills Bros. Coffee |
| 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | Kodiak |
| 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Amoco Ultimate |
| 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | McDonald's |
| 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | Rubbermaid, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo Supergard |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, August 17, at 11:05 AM EST. The session would last for two hours. Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 38.455 and an average speed of 187.232 mph (301.321 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.455 | 187.232 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 38.461 | 187.203 |
| 3 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 38.580 | 186.625 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, August 18, at 11:15 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.510 and an average speed of 182.232 mph (293.274 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.510 | 182.232 |
| 2 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 39.650 | 181.589 |
| 3 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 39.706 | 181.333 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, August 18, at 3:00 PM EST. The session would last for one hour. Rusty Wallace, driving for Penske Racing South, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 39.670 and an average speed of 181.497 mph (292.091 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 39.670 | 181.497 |
| 2 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 39.793 | 180.936 |
| 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 39.882 | 180.533 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, August 17, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. Positions 1-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.

Ricky Craven, driving for PPI Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 38.272 and an average speed of 188.127 miles per hour (302.761 km/h).

Two drivers would fail to qualify: David Keith and Buckshot Jones.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 38.272 | 188.127 |
| 2 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 38.327 | 187.857 |
| 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.393 | 187.534 |
| 4 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 38.458 | 187.217 |
| 5 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 38.469 | 187.164 |
| 6 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 38.473 | 187.144 |
| 7 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.489 | 187.066 |
| 8 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 38.493 | 187.047 |
| 9 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 38.496 | 187.032 |
| 10 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 38.535 | 186.843 |
| 11 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 38.554 | 186.751 |
| 12 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.577 | 186.640 |
| 13 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.587 | 186.591 |
| 14 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 38.602 | 186.519 |
| 15 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 38.603 | 186.514 |
| 16 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.619 | 186.436 |
| 17 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 38.636 | 186.355 |
| 18 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 38.659 | 186.244 |
| 19 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 38.684 | 186.123 |
| 20 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.684 | 186.123 |
| 21 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 38.688 | 186.104 |
| 22 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 38.692 | 186.085 |
| 23 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.714 | 185.979 |
| 24 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.735 | 185.878 |
| 25 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.742 | 185.845 |
| 26 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.748 | 185.816 |
| 27 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 38.761 | 185.754 |
| 28 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 38.761 | 185.754 |
| 29 | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 38.83 | 185.424 |
| 30 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 38.848 | 185.338 |
| 31 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.858 | 185.290 |
| 32 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 38.907 | 185.057 |
| 33 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 38.911 | 185.038 |
| 34 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 38.913 | 185.028 |
| 35 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 38.949 | 184.857 |
| 36 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 38.965 | 184.781 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | -* | -* |
| 38 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| 39 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 40 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | -* | -* |
| 41 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | -* | -* |
| 42 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | -* | -* |
| 43 | 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | -* | -* |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 57 | David Keith | Team CLR | Ford | 38.985 | 184.686 |
| 45 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 38.998 | 184.625 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

*Time not available.

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 15 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 162 | 18 | running | 180 | $157,830 |
| 2 | 1 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 162 | 0 | running | 170 | $92,545 |
| 3 | 2 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 162 | 57 | running | 175 | $106,128 |
| 4 | 33 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 162 | 0 | running | 160 | $70,050 |
| 5 | 22 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 162 | 0 | running | 155 | $68,015 |
| 6 | 41 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 162 | 0 | running | 150 | $49,315 |
| 7 | 13 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 162 | 0 | running | 146 | $90,692 |
| 8 | 25 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 162 | 4 | running | 147 | $87,691 |
| 9 | 27 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 162 | 0 | running | 138 | $72,883 |
| 10 | 6 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 162 | 0 | running | 134 | $52,840 |
| 11 | 18 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 162 | 0 | running | 130 | $63,460 |
| 12 | 12 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 162 | 0 | running | 127 | $75,188 |
| 13 | 19 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 162 | 2 | running | 129 | $82,949 |
| 14 | 30 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 162 | 0 | running | 121 | $57,776 |
| 15 | 4 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 162 | 0 | running | 118 | $65,830 |
| 16 | 16 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 162 | 0 | running | 115 | $86,786 |
| 17 | 14 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 162 | 25 | running | 117 | $83,330 |
| 18 | 20 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 0 | running | 109 | $73,614 |
| 19 | 9 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 161 | 0 | running | 106 | $84,617 |
| 20 | 38 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 161 | 0 | running | 103 | $56,065 |
| 21 | 28 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 161 | 0 | running | 100 | $40,590 |
| 22 | 40 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 0 | running | 97 | $68,210 |
| 23 | 21 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 161 | 0 | running | 94 | $39,615 |
| 24 | 11 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 161 | 0 | running | 91 | $47,415 |
| 25 | 36 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 161 | 0 | running | 88 | $37,065 |
| 26 | 5 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 161 | 0 | running | 85 | $73,392 |
| 27 | 10 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 161 | 0 | running | 82 | $55,890 |
| 28 | 35 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 0 | running | 79 | $43,540 |
| 29 | 39 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 161 | 0 | running | 76 | $68,095 |
| 30 | 34 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 161 | 3 | running | 78 | $35,790 |
| 31 | 29 | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 161 | 0 | running | 70 | $35,165 |
| 32 | 8 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 160 | 0 | running | 67 | $35,090 |
| 33 | 37 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 160 | 0 | running | 64 | $68,150 |
| 34 | 31 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 160 | 0 | running | 61 | $42,940 |
| 35 | 32 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 160 | 0 | running | 58 | $42,865 |
| 36 | 7 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 160 | 0 | running | 55 | $44,815 |
| 37 | 17 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 160 | 2 | running | 57 | $79,792 |
| 38 | 24 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 159 | 0 | running | 49 | $34,655 |
| 39 | 43 | 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 159 | 0 | running | 46 | $34,620 |
| 40 | 42 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 147 | 0 | running | 43 | $34,560 |
| 41 | 26 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 125 | 0 | engine | 40 | $80,552 |
| 42 | 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 120 | 51 | engine | 42 | $64,957 |
| 43 | 23 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 40 | 0 | engine | 34 | $41,794 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 57 | David Keith | Team CLR | Ford | | | | | |
| 45 | | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
